Swivel mount



Jan. .4, J M11-{ALY} ET AL 2,458,399

SWIVEL MOUNT Filed July 5,-1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 46 37 24 3a kEl 4 l0 JOSEPH MIHALYI 43 53 HARLQW D.PH|L|Ps l INI /ENTORS 44 www Jan. 4, 1.949. JQ MIHALYI ETAL SWIVEL MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1945 FIG. 7.

HARLOW D. PHILIPS INI/ENTORS ,PM/MM 1 l l.' l Il A ORNEYS Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED :emesseA EL MQUN Joseph Miiiely'iehsiarlew Dllliliiiesl Beemster;

Rochester; Ni Y., acorporatibn of NewfJfs'ey epniaiioneelve- 1945 Serial N0- 693,998'

seams; (c1. ns1-fraai The present invention relates to a mount, ,and more particularly to specific form. of mount' ier securing a sighting device such, for example, as a pair of binoculars in position on a ship praemplane. v

It is essential that an observer be 'able to swing the binoculars, or other sighting device, leasilif in azimuth `and in elevation lwhile searchin'gior and/or tracking. targets. Suchswinging is accornp-shed by mounting the binoculars v'so that they may be pivoted selectively vabout alvertal and/ or horizontal axis, or may be readily clamped and held in any position of adjustment aboutsaid axes.

The present invention has, therefore, as its principal object the provision ora mount designed to permit free movement about a pair of normally arranged axes.

A further `object of the inventpnis. theprof vision of an arrangement for securelyhfolding' and locking the sighting device or binoculars. any position of adjustment relative to said axes,

Yet another object of .theinvention isitheprovision of a device of they class )describedr ksimple in construction, easy to operate, .and hig'hiy eiective in use.

To these and other ends, thevinvention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more fully4 described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of Ithe mountwith parts -in section, showing the relation of theiparts when the vsighting device is released 'Afor'movement about one or both axes;

Fig. 2 is a partial View 0f the structureshown in Fig. 1, showing the relation ofthe parts When the sighting device is locked Vor is heid against movement about .either axis;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view taken substantially on lines 3'3 oi'Fig. 1, 4showing the brake drum :and brake band'in their normalpojsitions to clamp or lool; the sighting device against move-ment about the vertical" axis X--X Fig'. 4 s a View similar to Fig. 3 but with the brake band released to free the sighting device and the supporting frame for unitary movement about the vertical axisY-V-VY;

Fig. 5 is a side View of the mount showingthe actuating linkage andhandle in 1its,r'iormal'position with the sighting device locked againstrotating about kthe axes h,fm-d' Y-:-Y;

Fie. 6 is a view Similar .to Fig.; .5, but with the parts moved to release the clamping or locking 2 riieans to free the sighting dei/ice for 'selective nioveineritaldout "thefvrtial andYpr hoggllt'l 35mm 'Figi 7 is a plan Viet/voi thernount illustrated in Fig, 1, .with parts in section, s owing the yarr e'- ment for transmitting in@ mpveme'ritto the pr ke band' t@ mOVe 121i@ leiter inilempej'g vf@,lii'iloi with the braise drum.

Similar ref ence numerals .throughoutthe ver* tous views indicate the sa'meparts.

T111@ drawings relat t0 "en arrangement er which va sighting dev e, suoli as a pairfof 1ers, may be vinquiete Vl,am a'. ship or 'a rop; freevand selective movement atoute; ,l l mally arranged axes. When 'the'desiredaciJiistL :nent isfseciired; separate locking means are reatiili7 eictive, to lock the sighting dei/io@ movement about .etller` axis; Asin'g'ie, Operated hedllflney b' e'i-.tlietedto'rmlteneously YiCe for select-i y K y h axes, @Divine feieaseef the hrifdi Ath 196k g means peeping eiective to loclthe l'di/'ice against I noverm'erlt. A'

Referring now' to theoraiwin'gs, there shown am unt 4which a sightinfff dei/ice, such, for a ne, a par of n 1"" fr mol-inte@ f0.1' Incl/'ement l t X-Xlor a horizontal aXi'sYTY, or be A1' `against rnoyernentsgall will bfeherein Inorje vfully described." To secure thisrres fa. ia-time@ Suppen .l 'I' eedly womit-eden e S- iableA l1o'os,itit`njilon ya ship or aero port is formed with a, depending' town-ich ispinnedat l4 't it," `lbestshownin'iig. 1. =imm the Shaft -|12 no provide en 1,5 tp'reeeiye. a similarly shape "sie laf fr on Aa channel-sj aned fram port il; `sl1`aftj-l2;and br le rettete-zit botten vide a iilnialv stationary support' onvivhichthe fratrie l1' may be moved" about the shaft ,l 2; and axis K -X-,the sleeve ,ladiramre l f ported on rthe ,botto-m Ig'of (the bra e c :and ifi@ Smit I2 termine hearing "for elta t asbestpshown inlFe. 1-

Theend's l2l o f Ithe frame l] are lientnown .to ,form seed' bearings for@ no einen range'dshaftlul heldv4 againstrota yby rieans gf" pins' 23.- 4The4 sighting device l t ispmvid'ed with la' pair lof spaced armsgtloojsely rnount' and supportedby'shaft 22 to' pernit"tl'e u w iv' ble' mOi/ed @baut ilse" Shaft' L2? and exis Yi-Y; tlielef; By means IOf the above-'deserving arra'n'gem'enty the device lil-'maybe inove'dreb 3 ative to the frame |1 about the horizontal axis Y-Y, or as a unit with frame |1 about the vertical axis X-X.

Such movements enable the observer to swivel the binoculars both in azimuth and in elevation while searching for and/or tracking a target. In order, however, to prevent undesirable swinging of the binoculars about the axis due to the rocking, pitching, or other movement of the ship or plane when the binoculars are not in use, or to retain the binoculars in any desired position of adjustment, it is desirable to supply means for locking the binoculars against rotative movement about either of said axes. To this end, a brake band 25 is wrapped around the brake drum I4 and has one end anchored to a xed post 26 carried by a sleeve 21 pinned at 28 to shaft 22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The other end of the band 25 is secured to a post 29 carried by a sleeve 30 loosely mounted on the shaft 22. It will now be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4 that if the movable post 2S is moved to the right, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, to the position shown in Fig. 3, the brake band will frictionally engage the brake drum I4 to clamp or lock the frame |1 and binoculars l against movement about the shaft I2 and the vertical axis X-X thereof. If, however, the post 29 is moved to the left, or to the position shown in Fig. 4, the band 25 will disengage from the drum 4 suiciently to permit the free and unitary movement of the frame |1 and binoculars I0 about the vertical axis X-X. Thus, with the parts in position shown in Fig. 4, the binoculars lll can be readily and easily moved in azimuth, but when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the binoculars are locked or clamped against such movement.

A coil spring 3| loosely carried by shaft 22 and positioned between the xed sleeve 21 and a movable sleeve 30 tends to move the post 29 and sleeve 30 to the left to release the band 25. A pair of beveled cams 34 and 35 are loosely mounted on the left end of the shaft 22 with adjacent faces 36 and 31 of the cams in engagement, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7. It will now be apparent that if the cam 34 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, the surface 36 thereof will engage the surface 31 of cam 35 to move the latter to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, and 7. The cam 35 is provided with a plurality of axially projected ngers 38, see Fig. 1, which extend through the left supporting arm 24 of device l0, in such a manner as not to interfere with the movement of the binoculars I0 about the shaft 22. The opposite or right ends of the fingers 38 engage a disk 39 formed on the left end of the sleeve 30. Thus, the rightward movement of the cam 35 is transmitted through the fingers 38 and disk 39 to sleeve 30 to move the latter to the right to shift the post 29 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to bring the band 25 into clamping relation with the brake drum I4.

A large coil spring 40 has one end thereof anchored to the frame I1 and the other end secured to the cam 34 and tends to turn the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, to shift the cam 35, sleeve 3U, and post 29 to the right. The spring 4U is of suflicient strength to overcome spring 3| and tends to normally hold the parts in clamped or locked position shown in Fig. 2, t0 prevent movement of the binoculars about axis X--X. However, rotation of the vcam 34, in a counter-clockwise direction and against the action of spring 4U will move the surface 36 out of engagement with the surface 31 to free cam 35 and sleeve 30. The latter is then free to move to the left, under the action of spring 3|, to shift the post 29 to the position shown in Fig. 4 to release the brake band 25 and thus free the frame I1 and binoculars l0 for movement about the shaft I2 and the vertical axis X--X. The rotation of cam 34 may thus be utilized either to look the frame I1 and binoculars I against movement about axis X-X, or may release the locking means to permit such movement.

A plate 4| depends from the left member 2| of the frame I1 and is formed with a curved slot 42, see Figs. 5 and 6, through which the shank of a bolt 43 extends. The head 44 of the bolt is arranged to engage the surface 45 of frame 4| while the shank is threaded into a plate 46 secured to or formed integral with the case of the binoculars i0. A bushing 41 surrounds the shank of the bolt 43 and is positioned intermediate the plates 4| and 45, as shown in Figs. l and 2. It will now be `apparent that if the bolt 43 is turned in a clock wise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, the head 44 will be brought down into clamping relation against the surface 45 of the plate 4| to clamp the latter between the bolt head 44 and the bushing 41. Such clamping will serve to effectively lock the binoculars IU against rotation about shaft 22 and axis Y-Y. If, however, the bolt 43 is backed olf vby rotating it in a counter-clockwise direction, the head 44 will be moved out of clamping relation with the surface 45. The binoculars I3 will then be free and may be swung about the axis Y-Y relative to the frame |1 to secure the desired horizontal adjustment. Thus the bolt 43 may be loosened to permit movement of the binoculars about axis Y-Y or may be clamped down to lock the binoculars in any position of adjustment about said axis.

On the other hand, the loosening of the brake band 25 permits the Afree movement of the frame I1 and binoculars Ill as a unit about the shaft I2 and axis X-X to secure the desired azimuth adjustment while the engagement of the band 25 with the drum I4 locks the members against such movement. Thus the binoculars Ill may be locked or clamped against movement or may be free to move in two directions thus enabling the observer to readily search for and/or track a. target.

While the above arrangement provides adequate means for locking and/or releasing binoculars Ill for movement about either axis, it is desirable to provide a single easily operated member by which the observer may readily release the clamping or locking means to permit freedom of movement of the binoculars, and to then again lock the binoculars in any desired position of adjustment. To secure this result, the handle 50 is rockably mounted on the side of the binoculars I. A crank arm 5| is operatively connected to the handle 5|] and is pivotally connected at 52 to a lever or link 53, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at 54 to a crank 55 operatively connected to or formed integral with the cam 34. It will now be apparent that a downward pull of the handle 50 will draw the lever or link 53 downwardly to thus rotate the crank arm 55 and cam 34 in a counter-clockwise direction. As mentioned above. such movement of the cam 34 will enable spring 3| to shift sleeve 30 and post assenso 29 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to release the brake drum to free frame I1 off binoculars Ill for movement about axis X-X, and upon release of the handle Eil, the spring 40 will then automatically turn the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5 to rotate the cam 34 clockwise and thereby shift the cam 35, sleeve 30 and post 29 to the right to the position shown in Fig. 4 to again bring the band 25 into clamping relation to the drum i4 to lock the binoculars Illand frame l1 against movement about axis X-X. A stationary handle 55 cooperates with the operating handle 5B during the releasing operation. These handles are so positioned that they may be simultaneously grasped by one hand of the operator and by then squeezing the handle 50 it' may be moved toward the stationary handle 5By as 1s apparent, to perform the releasing operation.

It is preferred to utilize this movement of the handle 553 to also release the bolt 43 to also free the binoculars lll for simultaneous or selective movement about the axis Y-Y. Therefore, the lever 55 is provided with a pin 51 positioned in a forked or slotted end 58 of an arm 59 projecting radially from bolt 43, as shownin Figs. 5 and 6. It will now be apparent from an inspection of these gures, that downward movement of the handle 50 which, as pointed out above, releases the binoculars for movement about the axis X-X, will also cause the pin 5l to turn the arm 59 and hence the bolt 43 in a counterclockwise direction to thus move the head 44 out of clamping relation with the surface 45 of plate Iii. However, upon release of the handle 50, the parts are returned by spring 40 to the position shown in Fig. 6. Such return movement will then cause the pin 5l to rotate arm 59 of bolt 43 in a clockwise direction to again bring the head dll into clamping relation with plate 46 to lock the binoculars against movement about the axis Y-Y.

Thus the downward movement ofthe single handle 50 serves to simultaneously release the drum l 1l land also to back oi on bolt 43 so the binoculars lil may be freed for selective movement about either or both the axes X-X and Y-Y. After the proper adjustment has been secured, or the devi-ce is to be no longer Aused, the handle 55 is released, whereupon the spring @lil again returns the parts into clamping relation to'thereby prevent movement of the binoculars relatively to the ship or aeroplane. With this arrangement, the observer may, with one hand, release and adjust the binoculars both in azimuth and in elevation, thus'leaving the other hand free to actuate the controls, orfor `any other purpose. The single spring 40 thus constitutes a single means to return the two clamping members in clamping position to thus effectively lock the binoculars against movement about either axis.

While the present embodiment has been described in connection with the use of a pair of binoculars, this is by way of illustration only` and is not to be -considered as a limitation, as vit is apparent that such a -construction or mount is adapted for use with any device which is to be moved about a pair of normally arranged axes and is to be clamped in any position of adjustment. For example, a telescope may be similarly mounted.

We claim:

l. In a mount, the combination with a support, of a device, means for mounting said device on said supportl for movement on the latter about normally- Aarranged axes, means for separately locking rSaid devicev against movement abouty each of said: axes,l means` tendingto release one of said locking means, meansfnormally retain-ing both of said: lookingzmeansf Vin'l'ocking relation, and. ai control means for releasingsaid retaining mean'sfand forzmovingrone of said locking.' means topei'mit thefree and selective movement' of said device about saidy axes.v

2i rIn a:mount,rthe combination Witha-support, of a device, means-for mounting said device on said: supportl for movement on the latter about normally arranged axes, means for separately locking-said device against movement about each of said axes, means tending to releasev oney of saidf locking means, means normally retaining botli of said locking means in locking relation, anda-control meanslfor directly releasing one of said locking means and for moving said retaining meansv t'o render said releasing means operative to ri=,'\lea'setl'1eV other locking means to permit said device tobe moved selectively about said axes.

3l In a mount, the' combination with a support, of adevice, means for mounting said device on saidsupportfor movement'on the latter about normally arrangedV axes, means for locking said device againstmovement'about one of said axes, meansitending' to move said locking means to a releasing position, a separate means for locking said" device against movement about the other of said" axes, means directly connected to both of said locking means toreleaseably hold them in lockingy relation, and a control means adapted to directly releasesaid' second locking means and to move said holding means to render said moving means 'effective to simultaneously release the first lockingI means to free said device for selective movement about said axes.

4; In a mount, the combination with a stationary support, of a frame carried by said support and movable about a vertical axis relative to said support, friction means for holding said frame against movement about said axis, spring means tending to move said friction means to released position, a device carried by said frame and movable relative thereto about a horizontal axis, friction means adapted to clamp said device against movement about said horizontal axis, means normally retaining said friction means in position to hold said device against movement about said axis, and means for releasing said sec-` said axis.

5. In a mount, the combination with a stationary Support, of a frame carried by saidl support and movable about .a vertical axis relative to said support, friction brake means for holding said frame vagainst movement about said axis, spring means tending to release said brake means to free said frame for movement about said axis, a horizontal shaft carried by said frame, a device p loosely mounted on and suspended from said ing and locking means to free said device for independent movement about said shaft or movement as a unit with said frame about said vertical axis.

6. A mount comprising, in combination, a stationary support having a vertically depending shaft, a brake drum Xedly carried by said shaft, a frame loosely support-ed by said shaft, a horizontal shaft carried by said frame, a device loosely supported by and depending from said second shaft, a brake band engaging said drum, and having one end fixed to said horizontal shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said second shaft, a post carried by said sleeve and connected to the other end of said band, spring means carried by said shaft and engaging said sleeve and tending to move the latter and said post in a direction to loosen said band to free said frame so that the latter may be moved about said first shaft, spring actuated means carried by said second shaft and adapted to overcome said first spring means to shift said sleeve and post in the opposite direction to clamp said band on said drum to hold said frame against movement about said rst shaft, releasable means carried by said device and engaging said frame to clamp the device against movement about said second shaft, and a releasing means operatively connected to said spring actuated means to move the latter to render said first spring means effective to release said band to free said frame for vertical movement about said rst shaft and to move simultaneously said releasable means to free said device for movement about said second shaft.

7. A mount comprising, in combination, a stationary support having a vertically depending shaft, a brake drum xedly carried by said shaft, a `frame loosely supported by said shaft, a horizontal shaft carried by said frame, a device looseiy supported by and depending from said second shaft, a brake band engaging saiddrum and having one end anchored to said second shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted on said second shaft, a post carried by said sleeve and connected to the other end of said band, spring means carried by said shaft and engaging said sleeve and tending to move the latter and said post in a direction to loosen said band to free said frame so that the latter may be moved about said first shaft, spring actuated means carried by said second shaft and adapted to overcome said first spring means to shift said sleeve and post in the opposite direction to clamp said band on said drum to hold said frame against movement about said first shaft, a stud threaded into said device and formed with a head adapted to engage said frame to frictionally hold said device against movement about said second shaft and relative to said frame, a slotted arm carried by said stud, a link connecting said arm and said spring actuated means and movable in one direction by the latter so as to move said sleeve and post in said opposite direction and to rotate said stud to lock simultaneously said device against movement about said second shaft and against unitary movement `of said device and frame about said rst shaft, and an operating handle connected to said link for moving the latter to shift said spring actuated means to release said sleeve to render the rst spring means effective to move said band to free said frame for movement about said vertical axis and to rotate simultaneously said stud to loosen the latter to free said device for movement about said second shaft.

`8. A mount comprising, in combination, a stationary support having a vertically depending shaft, a brake drum fixedly mounted on said shaft, a frame loosely mounted on said shaft and supported by said brake drum, a horizontal shaft carried by said frame, a brake band engaging said drum and having one end secured to said second shafta sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft, a post carried by said sleeve and connected to the other end of said band, a spring carried by said shaft and engaging said sleeve and tending to move the latter and said post in one direction to loosen said band to permit said frame to move on said rst shaft, a pair of cams carried by said second shaft, a spring connected to one of said cams and overcoming said first spring to rotate the one cam in one direction to shift said sleeve and post against the action of said first spring to move said band into engaging relation with said drum to lock said frame against movement relative to said first shaft, a devi-ce loosely supported on and depending from said second shaft, a stud threadedly engaging said device, a head on said stud adapted to frictionally engage said frame to clamp said device for movement about said second shaft, a slotted arm extending radially from said stud, a link connecting said arm to said second spring so that the latter will rotate said stud to clamp said device when said cam is rotated in said one direction to shift said sleeve, and a handle connected to said link to shift the latter to move said one cam in another direction against the action of said second spring to render said first spring effective to move said sleeve and post in said one direction to Yrelease said band to free said frame for movement about said rst shaft and to move simultaneously said slotted arm to rotate said stud to loosen the latter to free said device for movement about said second shaft.

JOSEPH MIHALYI. HARLOW D. PHILIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,502,173 Chamberlin July 22, 1924 1,517,550 Fairchild Dec. 2, 1924 1,790,030 Turner Jan. 27, 1931 2,128,409 Hager Aug. 30, 1938 2,305,233 Blaschke Dec. 15, 1942 2,364,363 Howell Dec. 5, 1944 2,424,499 Pasturczak July 22, 1947 

